Rox prospects Brito, Calaz get taste of big league Spring Training

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies No. 4 prospect Roldy Brito has a solid build on his listed 5-foot-11 frame not always associated with an 18-year-old coming out of his first professional season. He’s getting good advice.

“My dad [Ronny Brito] played with the Phillies and lower levels -- obviously, at that time there were other people ahead of him,” Brito said in Spanish, with longtime Rockies farm system manager Fred Ocasio interpreting. “When I was younger, I was always working with my dad on my body, always trying to prepare for a long season.”

Brito’s preparation showed in 2025 -- .368/.445/.555 slash line in 51 games while managed by Ocasio in the Arizona Complex League, in addition to .375/.442/.463 in 33 games at Single-A Fresno.

Monday was a special day of prep for the ‘26 season for Brito, a second baseman who also is learning the outfield, and No. 5 prospect Robert Calaz, an outfielder. They traveled with the Rockies' team that lost 12-3 to the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. It was the first invitation to a Major League Spring Training game for both players.

Calaz, who slashed .259/.338/.399 in 99 games for Fresno last year in his first full Minor League season, and Brito were the last two Arizona Complex League Most Valuable Players.

“It’s been a pleasure to watch both of them grow as players and have the success that they had here in the ACL,” Ocasio said.

Brito reached on an eighth-inning infield single and logged a sprint speed of 29.1 feet per second -- a level that if averaged over a qualifying number of plays would have tied him for 47th among Major Leaguers -- on Drew Avans’ run-scoring double.

“That was the first time I’ve seen him -- it’s a shame it was such a lopsided game,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “We could have seen him steal some bases.”

Calaz entered in the seventh as a pinch-runner, and in his lone plate appearance drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.

“That [plate appearance] was good, and he also had a nice play in right field,” Schaeffer said. “It was good to get some eyes on the young guys.”

Both also are on the Rockies’ roster for the Spring Breakout game against the Diamondbacks on March 21 at Salt River Fields.

The switch-hitting Brito signed for $420,000 in 2024 out of Bonao, Dominican Republic, and played in the Dominican Summer League. Last season, Brito became the you-gotta-see-him guy, collecting hits with a solid approach that simply piled up the hits. The Rockies extended him to instructional ball and the hitting didn’t stop.

Calaz came through the same youth program in the Dominican Republic as Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and has worked with him since turning pro. Calaz also took live at-bats against Yankees hard-throwing reliever Camilo Doval in preparation for the season.

Second baseman Adael Amador, who also played for the Rockies on Monday, has been a mentor.

“The main thing he talked about is the focus part -- always being focused in the game,” Calaz said.

Back is fine, cutter is getting better

In two innings of his second Spring Training appearance after missing time with mid-back spasms, Kyle Freeland felt no physical issues and should be fine for the start of the regular season. The left-hander frequently used his cutter.

Freeland gave up his lone run in a left-on-left matchup on Oliver Dunn’s second-inning home run, but Freeland used the pitch effectively at times against right- and left-handed hitters.

“It’s a pitch I just learned truly how to throw, with the grip and mindset, a couple weeks ago, and that easily clicked for me,” Freeland said. “Even though it’s clicked mentally and feel-wise, I’ve got to feel out where to start it, how I want it to finish. I threw a handful of good ones today and a handful of not so good ones so it’s a pitch in the works.”

Getting to know No. 10 prospect Roc Riggio

Riggio, 23, a second baseman acquired from the Yankees for reliever Jake Bird, homered with two out in the ninth in his sixth Cactus League appearance.

“We’ve seen Roc a lot this spring,” Schaeffer said. “Before games started, he was around working out with us. We love the motor, love the work ethic and the at-bats have been good. He’s got power, he’s a grinder defensively and runs the bases well.”

Staying in the mix

Non-roster lefty Parker Mushinski, who appeared with the Astros the past two seasons, yielded two hits and struck out three while pitching the final two innings. He is firmly in the mix for relief jobs as Schaeffer is looking for as many pitchers capable of multiple innings as he can fit in the ‘pen.